Dilator



Aug. 25, 1925. I 1,551,499

J. G. HOMAN DILATOR Filed May 18, 1-922 ltent'edflu g '1925. A f

UNITED sTATs 'P'rina'l'4 oFFlcE;

JOHN G. Holux, 01' s'rEUBnNvILLE, 0x10, Assmnon To 'um nLEcrao-'rnaauan '10F`PANY, OF STEUBENVILLE, OHIO, A C01R.P 0IB A'I.'IION OF O'EIO.

DILATOR.

,Application flled way 18, 1922.. Serial No. 581,807)l To all whom it may cancer/1.'

Be it known that I, JOHN G. HoiuAN, a citizen of the United. States, residmg 'at Steubenville, in the county of Jefl'erson and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dilators,y

of which the following is a specification. This invention relates to dilators, and particularly to a method and means for heating the same.

The therapeutic value of heat as a 'stimulator in the treatment of rectal diseases and constipation by dilation is` not questioned. I have heretofore used heat generated electrically in connection with dilation, as'shown for instance in my Patent No. 1,279,111 of September 17, 1918.

lt has also been `proposed to apply heat' through the circulation of hot water through the dilator.

The circulation of hot water through the dilator is inconvenient and4 hard to control, and a hollow-dilator merely filled with hot water is not only hard to control, especially when it is being filled, `but a sufliciently uniform or lastmg temperature for beneficial results is not obtained. Electrically heated dilators, while more easily operated and Controlled, require some bother` when being connected up, and more'or less attention must be given' to the temperature control thereof.

In no instance has a dilator satisfactory for daily home treatment by the. patient been provided, where the physician could be certain that there would not be excessive heating or any over stimulation by heating for too long a time, 'as when the patient falls asleep whileusing-the dilator; nor could he be assured that suflicient heat would be applied for a suflicient period.

The present invention proposes to heat a dilator through a medium capable of providing a sustained heatof practically constant and uniform value for a. considerable period of time wherein a temperature rise above a desired maximum -is not possible,

all control of the temperature being taken out of the hands of any operator. A dilator heated in accordance wlth my invention may be'used under any circumstances with absolute safety. Even should the patient .fall asleep durin the treatment, he is absolutelyl protecte against any rise in temperature. This virtue is now only found in the 'dilator filled with hot liquid, and one so heated may initially be too hot or too cold, and by reason of its limited capacity, the temperature is a rapidly declining one as compared With my invention.

Mypinvention may be readily understood by referring to the accompanying drawings i-n which, f

` Fig. 1 shows a dilator partly in section and partly in elevation; and

Fig. 2 shows a Capsule which inay be used in connection therewith.

` In the accompan'ying drawing, Fig. l

shows a dilator which may have its exterior though any suitable materialCOuld be used.

The cavity or hollow interior of the dilator is charged with a solution of sodium hyposulphite in water. 'Instead of a saturated solution, commercial crystals of the salt may be loaded into' the cavity. The crystals will contain suflicient water of crystallization to cause them to liquefy lupon the dilator being innnersed in a bath hot water, or otherwise suitably heated. Hence, either the solution 01' the crystals may be used.

If the dilator now be immersed in boiling water and afterward allowed to cool, it will be found that the contents will comprise a liquid solution of the hyposulphite of soda,` 'and will remain so until crystallization is started within the cav'ity. This may be done at the Will of the operator by remov- ,ing plug 6 and inserting an additional crystal of sodium hyposulphite or by temporaril inserting a foreign object, such as a sp inter or toothpick.

Once crystallization has begun, the plug 6 may be screwed tightly into place and the crystallizing process will continueuntil all of the hyposulphite of soda is crystallized. This metamorphose will be accompanied by the liberation of considerable{ heat over a somewhat extended period. As the action is uniform, and proceeds only at 'a -definite rate, there will be no fluctuation in the amount of heat given off, and the temperature in no case will exceed a maximumonly necessary to immerse it in boiling water again for a few minutes prepare it for use again. The usual sterillzatlon by hot water after each treatment is suflicient.

After being heated, crystallization may then be elfected as before described.

Instead of using a hyposulphite of soda 1 solution, other Ichemical agents may be employed. For instance, 'heat generated by chemical reactions of certain natures may be employed. As illustrative of this, the cavity 5 may be filled With water, and metallic sodium or potassium in a water soluble ca sule, as showr. in Fig. 2, may be 'employe In this instance, the capsule des1gnated 7, is dropped into the water and heat generated by the chemical reaction between the water andmetal is utilized. Furthermore, the maximum temperature is not exceeded, and no manual control is necessary. The amount of heat generated, however, is not so prolon ed as that provided by the soy dium lhyposu phite solution. Furthermore,

a new charge of water and of chemical is necessary for each application of the dilator. It removes, however, the` necessity for careful temperature control on the part of the user. In place of the chemical action described,l other well known combinations mi ht be employed.

lhile it is admittedly old to apply heat to a dilator as hereinbefore described, and While the physical or chemical properties of the substances herein mentioned are also 'well known, it has not been roposed to heat .a maximum, and avoid injury to the patient.

Properties of certain recogni'zed chemicals patient, and which he may be sure will give suflicient heat at a suflicient temperature, but from which no injuriousresult can come from excessive temperatures or from over stimulation by application for too long a period. The size of the cavity or the amount of chemical placed therein provide a definite time durino' which heat will be liberated, and danger from over-stimulation is thus limited.

By requiring heat for re-use, it is ensured that the dilator will be thoroughly cleaned and sterilized after each application.

I claim as my invention:

1. A dilator comprising a hollow body of the desired Shape and dimensions having an opening therein, a closurefor said opening, and a saturated solutio-nof sodium hyposulphite in the interior thereof or the crystals resulting from crystallization of such material.

2. The combination with a hollow body member shaped to efi'ect orificialv dilation, of a saturated solution of sodium h posulphite within the hollow body, said bo y havmg a removable closure at one end for giving access to its hollow interior.

3. The/combination with a hollow transversely round body member having an exterior form of graduall increasing diameter designed to effect orificlal dilation, of a substance within said hollow bodyhaving the property of generating heat when passing from one form into another, and a removable plug at the larger end of said body through which access may be had to the interior of the body.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

f JOHN G. HOMAN. 

